Sao Paulo (AFP)
Argentina striker Lionel Messi was expelled from third-place Copa America against Chile on Saturday in Sao Paulo for an altercation with defender Gary Medel, who was also given a red card by the referee.
The captains of both teams had to leave the game in the 37th minute of play, while Argentina led 2-0.
Messi and Medel, who had already had some muscular exchanges earlier in the match, were fighting for a ball coming out in six meters on the Chilean side.
Driven by the Argentinean number 10, the defender turned around quickly and the two players found themselves face to face.
Paraguayan referee Mario Díaz de Vivar gave the two players a red card, a decision that has been disappointing for spectators who came to admire the five-fold gold ball, some having even left the match before half-time.
This is only the second expulsion of the star of FC Barcelona throughout his career.
The first was already in the jersey of Argentina, during his debut with the national team, against Hungary, in 2005, for a nudge on an opponent.
? 2019 AFP